Karzai pays tribute to UK troops

Afghan president Hamid Karzai has paid tribute to the efforts and sacrifice of British troops in his country, as he met Foreign Secretary William Hague ahead of a major conference in Kabul on Tuesday.

Mr Hague, who will represent the UK at the international gathering in the Afghan capital, assured the president that Britain remains "a steady friend" of Afghanistan.

The Kabul Conference is expected to agree a timetable that would see full responsibility for security handed over to the Afghan forces by 2014 - allowing the withdrawal of UK and other Nato combat troops.

Mr Karzai will attempt to show the progress he is making towards establishing control over the war-ravaged country by asking donors to increase from 50% to 80% the proportion of aid money devoted to programmes drawn up by Afghans, rather than chosen by foreign capitals.

He is expected to unveil 23 "national priority programmes" in the areas of governance, social and economic development and peace and security where he wants aid money to be directed.

The conference will take place under conditions of tight security, after a suicide bomb claimed the lives of three civilians in the city over the weekend.

A national peace conference - or "jirga" - in May was shaken by a rocket attack and gun battles with militants.

Mr Karzai thanked International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell - also attending the conference - for the recent announcement of a 40% uplift in UK development aid.

The president acknowledged that it was "vital" to continue work to improve governance in what has been ranked by Transparency International as the world's second most corrupt country.

Mr Hague and Mr Mitchell stressed the importance of Afghanistan demonstrating leadership across a wide range of policies and issues, as the international community shows its support for the country gradually assuming control over its own security.